Looking at buying a '91 740 GLE Wagon

[triggerman]

This weekend I’m going to look at a '91 740 GLE Wagon. 250,000kms, 5 speed, and it's supposed to be the 16v motor.

I currently own a '95 850 sedan, and love it. Aside from rust, and the typical Canadian weather stuff, are there any well known problems these cars encounter that I should be mindful of?

Do the odometers break like the 850? Can I pull the mileage from the OBDI computer if it is? Evaporator problems?

Here's the ad: http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z353089692

Any help, guides, write-ups would be greatly appreciated.

[billofdurham]

You can't pull the mileage from the OBD unit.

The odometers, as in any speedo with gear wheels, will break if it is zeroed when the car is in motion. Basically you are hitting a moving plastic gear wheel with a stationary piece of plastic. Something will give eventually.

The 16 valve motor is better than the 8 valve but it is an interference unit. Timing belt changes are critical. The interval for 1991+ models is 50,000 miles or 5 years.

Bill.

[writer100]

The 16 valve better than the 8 valve? More powerful, yes, but not better, from what I have heard.

Correct me if I am wrong.

[billofdurham]

I had the 8 valve 740 and, later, the 16 valve 940. It was more powerful and served me well for the 4 years that I had it. I think that a lot of owners have problems due to lack of routine maintenance and that all important timing belt change.

If you love to drive as I do, the 16 valve will please you. If you don't like doing or paying for scheduled maintenance, something else might suit you better.

Bill.